Brandun Lee didn’t waste any time picking up Wednesday night right where left off in the last televised boxing match in the United States before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Lee knocked down Jimmy Williams three times in the first round, when he knocked out Williams with a devastating left-right combination. The final knockdown left Williams sprawled out across a bottom rope.

Referee Danny Schiavone stopped their scheduled eight-round welterweight bout 1:34 into it at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The 21-year-old Lee, of La Quinta, California,  improved to 20-0 and produced his 18th knockout in the opener of Showtime’s “ShoBox: The New Generation” broadcast. Williams (16-4-2, 5 KOs, 1 NC), of West Haven, Connecticut, lost by knockout for the second time in his seven-year pro career.

The 34-year-old Williams was able to leave the ring without any assistance following his brutal knockout defeat.

Lee first hurt Williams with a right hand about 45 seconds into their bout. Williams didn’t go down, but the ropes held him up, which resulted in a knockdown.

Once they were brought together, Lee quickly blasted Williams with a right hand that knocked him down again. He got up again and answered Schiavone’s commands, but he didn’t last much longer.

Lee quickly caught him with the aforementioned left-right combination that ended their bout. 

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.